A Family Affair: 1966 Chevy Impala Restomod

July 11, 2018

What we have here is that most interesting of things: a restomod with a true history. This isn’t a car that was bought from some stranger on Craigslist then done up, this car has stayed in the same family for generations. The car in question is a 1966 Chevy Impala, and the family are the Preisters. Before current owner Steve Preister drove it, it was driven by his dad, who bought it in Fremont, Nebraska, in 1965. His dad and his mom drove it for 10 years before they put it into storage. With some encouragement from his friend Eric Sorenson, the car came back to light.

The car was in terrible shape when it came out of storage back when Steve was 14. It was covered in blooms of rust and suffering from exposure damage. But these things were built to survive. A little damage wasn’t going to stop the Chevy. A new set of tires, a new battery, and some gas, and the car’s engine turned over without a hitch. After a few years of messing around with other cars, Steve returned to the Impala. After making sure it was still running, with another new battery, some gas, and a set of new spark plugs, and it was good to go. After that, the Impala’s body was sandblasted and given a new coat of powder, and the damage was repaired from the body panels. New rear quarter panels, fender wells, and a trunk pan were also fitted.

The car is powered by a 502 big-block V8, while a four-speed 4L85E auto transmission allows for effortless cruising. Cooling is provided by a Be Cool radiator, while the suspension has been upgraded with antisway bars. Add to this a new FAST throttle body, Halibrand alloy wheels with Baer disc brakes, and a spotless interior, and you’ve got a supremely well-modernized Impala.

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